Pop Music

Carey talks about music and I can relate to a lot of what he is saying. One thing I’m eternally glad for is the fact that I live in the UK and our music scene is quite happily contrary on many fronts. My bench mark is usually the “Later with…” Jools Holland series. If they make it on their then they are OK with me, even if I’m not really “diggin’ their scene man..”.

I’m glad we have the Macy Gray’s (she’s mad ain’t she), Marilyn Manson’s (he is the devil you know) and yes, even good old Ozzy (former people’s enemy number one, once bit the head off a bat, etc etc) to remind us that true music isn’t something that is manufactured on an assembly line. That’s about the only line I draw to be honest. The age we live in is one of marketing campaigns, global sales and spiralling moral codes.

And then, along comes a song. Take Coldplay’s new single. Absolutely glorious, delightful on the ear. That’s true music. It means something (as Carey said).

Right I’m off to listen to some Pearl Jam, no Radiohead, no PJ Harvey, no the new Eminem album, or maybe Pink’s album, hmmmm am I selling out? Yes I think I am, one thing I’ve come to realise over the last few years is that I am a lot more tolerant of the Britney’s and Shakira’s of this world than I once was. I was once villified for not liking “I just called to say I love you” by Stevie Wonder – the man is a genius but that song… pop tripe and WAY beneath him, at that time he was the man, everyone loved Stevie. These days I listen and label these songs as they are “Harmless Pop. Background annoyance at worst.”